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Laminate Flooring Installation - Learn How To Lay Laminate Flooring Like A Pro

Laminate flooring installations have transformed do it yourself novices into property plastic surgery pro's, confidently adding value to homes all over the world. Home remodeling rookies are clamoring to get their itching hands on boxes of hardwood laminate flooring planks, knowing that the innovation behind this interior design idea will ensure a gratifying, fast-paced, glueless and groutless experience.

Click-together laminate hardwood flooring and tiling are the home improvement industry areas with the fastest growth rates. First-timers tackling a laminate flooring installation have loads of questions. The major manufacturers of flooring ranges such as Pergo Flooring, Armstrong Flooring, Mohawk Flooring, Bruce Flooring and similar products go out of their way to answer these in detail. What inspires many a home renovating junkie is that an average-sized floor can be ready to use and admire within a day - begging for compliments from somewhat green-around-the-gills neighbors...

The days of frustrating, messy, sticky, glued flooring planks are fading into the distance, as companies compete to come up with the most convenient and easiest to install flooring options. The simple click-'n-go designs of glueless laminate flooring ranges ensure a perfect finish plank after plank. You will have to go a long way to find an interior design idea that can be implemented faster, with more spectacular results! Now, let's get to the million dollar questions.

Am I Able To Do A Laminate Flooring Installation Over Existing Floors?

Absolutely. Quality laminate flooring is manufactured to be laid directly over almost any existing floor, from ceramic to vinyl, tile, or real wood. There is no need to waste time or resources ripping out an old floor. Two exceptions are real wood on concrete floors and carpeting - these need to be taken out before the installation. What is vitally important, however, is to ensure that the sub-floor is perfectly smooth and even before you begin to saw and click. Carefully sand down all bumpy areas or peaked joints. Fill up any irregular spots. If possible, install cabinets or cupboards before you give the laminate flooring installation project a go.

Do I Need To Leave A Gap Between My Laminate Flooring Installation And The Wall?

Glueless Laminate Flooring is designed to be a floating floor product, meaning that it isn't permanently fixed to the sub-floor area. These flooring ranges constantly react to changes in humidity and temperatures by contracting and expanding. It is therefore vital to leave at least a 1/4" expansion space between the flooring planks and all adjacent walls or cupboards. Getting this right will prevent unsightly buckling floors down the line. Don't worry about the gaps being an eye-sore. The Laminate Flooring industry manufactures a wide range of decorative moldings you can use to hide these spaces after installation. These are color coordinated to match the flooring and virtually guarantee a professional finish. Use the recommended spacers to keep your distances even - never trust your eye. A wider expansion space will be recommended if you are tackling a very large floor area.

Can I Do Anything About The Hollow Sound Of Footsteps On Laminate Flooring?

The echoing sounds that often follow your footsteps is the result of the floating floor concept. This is why a quality underlayment is so important. Rather pay a few dollars extra to get an effective sound dampening padding. Another advantage is that a thicker underlayment gives a more comfortable feel underfoot, especially where you will be standing for long periods, such as in the kitchen. Pergo's SilentStep foam or Soundbloc foam, and Mohawk Silentgard are excellent options. Many manufacturers now pre-attach the underlayment to the flooring planks. This is a time-saving and convenient measure. Just remember that you will probably need to remove this layer if you want to do a laminate flooring installation on stairs. The thickness of the flooring you install is another factor that plays a role in sound dampening.

You will also need a vapor barrier, usually a resin polyethylene film. Examples of this are the Pergo Moisturbloc vapor barrier and Mohawk Moisturegard. This layer protects your flooring from swelling and buckling due to moisture. If the sub-floor is wood, this barrier film isn't used.

Do I Need To Acclimate Laminate Flooring Before The Installation?

Some manufacturers recommend that you acclimate your laminate flooring planks by storing the unopened cartons on their flat side in the room where the flooring will be installed. This period should usually last between 49 and 96 hours, so take this into account while you do your planning. Don't ignore this instruction - you don't want an ugly, buckling flooring fiasco! Displaying that bit of patience can mean the difference between gaping joints and neatly clicked together flooring for years to come.

Is It Safe To Do A Laminate Flooring Installation In A Bathroom Or Kitchen?

The surface of a quality laminate flooring product is usually highly water resistant, so the planks perform beautifully in high humidity areas such as bathrooms and kitchens. To prevent buckling and warping in these areas, the expansion spaces need to be sealed with a product such as Pergo Sealant or a similar mildew-resistant silicone sealant before installing the trim or molding. The same should be done where the planks were cut to make room for cupboards or a dishwasher. It may also be wise to seal the joints by using glue. Your supplier will be able to advise you about the most satisfactory installation process. Keep in mind that, in spite of its water resistance, a laminate flooring installation and standing water will never be friends. If there is a spill, wipe it dry immediately.

Is It Safe To Do A Laminate Flooring Installation On Stairs?

Provided that you follow installation instructions to the letter, laminate flooring may usually be extended to the stairs. Steps are professionally finished with a Stair Nosing. The nosing is adhered with a quality construction adhesive and finishing screws. Although this flooring product has been designed to be a floating range, it must be glued to stairs. This is the only circumstance where adhesive is used to fix the flooring to the sub-floor.

How Do I Ensure A Professional Finish When Installing Laminate Flooring?

The brilliant guys in the laminate flooring industry have come up with a huge selection of color-coordinated transition moldings. You can finish your do it yourself home remodeling project in style and with an elegant touch. Trim doorways with T-Moldings, while end moldings are used along sliding doors and around tubs and basins. If you need to go from a raised laminate flooring area to a lower hard surface such as vinyl, choose a hard surface reducer.

Oops! My Laminate Flooring Installation Has A Puncture! What Now?

Don't despair! The folks at laminate flooring companies realize that mishaps are inevitable in active households where kids and pets rule. They therefore produce magical products such as Pergo Finishing Putty. Simply neaten the edges of the chipped area with a small knife, make sure the area is clean, and fill the hole with putty. Use a spatula to give the repair job a neat finish. Wipe away the excess, and you're done. Plank replacements are also possible if a more major repair is needed. Always put away a few spare planks for this purpose, as the range may be out of stock when you need it most.

A laminate flooring installation is likely to transform a beloved family home into a wrinkle-less, stylish and sprightly young lady. Isn't it about time to let those tattered carpets go?

About the Author

Rika Susan of Awnings-and-Blinds.com offers more information at the site. Don't start your flooring installation before reading the Laminate Flooring Installation Secrets, and viewing the laminate flooring articles. Copyright of this article: 2007 Rika Susan.

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